In a bid to decongest correctional facilities across the country, the federal government has freed no fewer than 68 inmates in the Zaria custodial centre.
According to Dr Ado Saleh, Comptroller of Correctional Service, Kaduna State, the federal government has also settled N52m fines and compensation for the 399 inmates at various correctional centres across Kaduna State.
Saleh said, “We are here to release 68 inmates from Zaria, Makarfi, Soba and Ikara correctional centres. 110 inmates were earlier released at Kaduna.
“The ceremony in Zaria was a continuation of the programme that was designed and implemented by the federal government. In total, 399 inmates in Kaduna State were marked to be released at the cost of N52m.
“The flag-off programme was simultaneously taking place at Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria and was to see to the release of 281 across the state.
“Of the 281 to be released across Kaduna State, 68 inmates were from Zaria zone,’’ he said.
He added that each beneficiary (freed inmates) would be given N10,000 to pay a transport fare.